The co-chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), President Asif Ali Zardari, is said to be deliberating appointing Defence Minister Chaudhary. Ahmad Mukhtar as Prime Minister in case Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualifies incumbent Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on January 19, 2012 for not implementing the apex court's decision on National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), it is learnt reliably.
"Since President Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman Senate Farooq H. Naek, Speaker National Assembly Dr Femida Mirza and Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim hail from Sindh the Prime Minister will be from Punjab and in case of disqualification of Gilani, the party leadership supports Chaudhary Ahmad Mukhtar as the most suitable candidate for the slot," the sources added.
Mukhtar was regarded as the runner-up for the slot of Prime Minister in 2008. Soon after Supreme Court's show cause notice to the Prime Minister hit the airwaves PPP leaders in the federal capital were visibly disturbed but declared that the 'political cyclone' generated by the show cause notice would evaporate subsequent to Prime Minister Gilani's appearance before the apex court on the 19th. However, in case the court decides to disqualify Gilani then the PPP's leadership is agreed that Chaudhary Ahmad Mukhar will replace him, well informed sources told Business Recorder.